How to Install Security Cameras in Your Home?

The turn of the century has made us much more dependent on technology and to a certain extent it is required. One such innovation that has become a necessity now is security cameras. These products which were usually installed in offices have made its way into our homes. The primary reason as to why such an occurrence took place is because of the fact that people like to have the extra sense of security and more importantly they need protection.

Off late there has been an increase in the number of burglaries in some of the most upscale localities. So it is imperative that we look at more radical ways to keep a more vigilant eye on our homes and a good security camera enables us to do just that. Add to that the fact that you can watch live streaming from the security camera straight into your mobile devices, security cameras are just the invention we were looking for. All these reasons added security camera is more like a necessity in today’s life rather than just an extra layer of protection. The biggest issue that people face with security cameras is the all important question of how to install security cameras in your home.

Before we go on to answer this question, there are some other aspects we need to consider here. A few questions will help you decide the type of camera you need and the methods for installation. The first question here is why do you need a security camera? There are many reasons to this. But broadly there are a few elements here.

When you’re home:

To keep track of who is at the front door from any corner of the house. You do not always have to be near the door to know who the new visitor is. All you have to do is keep track through your security surveillance.

If you have a baby in the house, it is a nice idea to keep track of your baby’s location and movements with the help of these security cameras.

Security cameras are a great way to keep an eye on your house at dead hours of the night. Sometimes, you might hear some unwelcome sounds from the ground floor. It is a good idea to check the video feeds to be sure.

When you’re not at home:

Home intruders are nothing that uncommon. So installing a security camera can be really useful here. You will know who is trying to intrude into your house. So now you have the chance to catch anyone who is trying to break in.

It is not only about intruders. Sometimes you might find suspicious people lingering around your house without any purpose. A security camera can keep an eye on that and remove all aspects of the doubt from your mind.

Having a security camera at home comes in very handy if you have pets at home. You can keep track of them from outside without any tension or hassles.

If you are out of the house and there are mechanics or maintenance crew working at home, you can keep an eye on them and feel safe about your house.

With the number of burglary cases on the rise around the globe, securing your house with these surveillance cameras is the most practical solution here.

Before we talk about camera installation, let us talk a little about the different types of security cameras in the market.

Fixed security camera: This is the most basic model of a security camera. You will not get too many advanced functions in it. You won’t be able to change the direction of the device or have the zoom options. But it will serve the purpose of recording movements around the house.

Pan-Tilt-Zoon camera: This is a more advanced version of a security camera. You have the chance to change the angle, the direction and it has the ability to spin itself. These make it an interesting buy.

Wireless camera: As the name suggests, these are wireless devices that can be connected to your security system via an internet connection.

Night vision camera: For night hours and those places of the house which are poorly lit, you can use the infrared technology of this camera to maintain the security requirements.

Motion detection camera: This is a very useful variation of the security cameras that can start recording whenever it senses any movement around the house.

The easiest way of answering this question can be done by giving you the step by step guidance of how to install a security camera at your place. It is true that the thought of making holes in your precious walls might seem a bit too much and add to that the fact the management of all those wires can easily discourage you from installing the product in totality. But the truth is that there are a lot of security systems that comes with all the things in the package of the product together. Here are the most common steps that will come in handy to install that security camera of your dreams in your home.

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Step 1: The requirements of the camera.

The biggest question that you have in front of you when you are installing security cameras is why and what do you need. You must remember that buy a surveillance security camera system does not come cheap, so if you have made up your mind that you are going to employ your security camera to check on every inch of your house then let us tell you that it is both impractical and extremely expensive. The best thing that you can do here is making a diagram of your house, this will help you to understand the shape of the house and also point out the areas that need security cameras hence making it easier for you. For this purpose, you can also print out a blueprint of your house. When thinking about installing cameras, from the diagrams, choose the areas that will give you a clear view of the house because those are the ideal places to set up the cameras. The areas that people choose to install cameras are driveways, porches, off street windows, front door, back door, stairways and large open spaces, so might look into these areas and also customize areas that you deem fit for your houses.

Step 2: Buying the right package.

The next thing that you need to do is choose the right package of security cameras for your house. What people do generally is that they try to buy each part of their systems separately and then assemble it together. But if you look carefully then a standard full package of security systems is much cheaper and convenient for you and your house. The basic package will have at least 1-3 cameras, a DVR, power cords and proper wiring which will include both BNC and Siamese cables. It is seen that unless you have specific requirements to have surveillance over a larger area, this is an option you should look into.

Step 3: Finding the right camera.

The next thing that you need to do after ascertaining whether you need a package is, find the right camera for your house. Keep in mind that a good security system can cost you a few hundred dollars to even thousands of dollars. This is the reason you should weigh your options when it comes to finding the right camera for your house. Here are some of the most popular camera features at your disposal to choose the right one. The first feature you should look in your camera is that whether it has motion sensing or not. The specialty of this feature is that they will start recording as soon as they notice a hint of motion. In effect, this feature helps to save both energy and space as they only record when there is someone present. The next feature you should have is the remote viewing. The importance of this feature is that it enables you to view the live streaming of the video on your remote devices like laptops and mobile phones anywhere in the world hence allowing you to keep an eye on your house irrespective of the location. Next you should know where to place the camera. What we mean here is that if you don’t know which camera to place where, then it might result in the loss of that camera. For example, if you place a camera designed for indoor purposes in the outdoors then it will invariably break down after a few days as it is not equipped in handling the heat and humidity.

Step 4: The initial set up.

In order to view the video feeds coming from the security cameras, the first thing that you would require is a Digital Video Recorder which would be connected to a monitor where you will watch the video. Apart from viewing, this DVR is also responsible in storing the video that is being recorded; this feature helps you to view any footage that you have missed earlier over and over again. The monitor in question is the device where you will watch the video and, for this reason, a small TV screen or a computer monitor is used. Now when choosing a DVR, remember how much memory you need as they come with different memory specifications which can range from a few hours of worth video to even videos for a whole day.

Step 5: Test the equipments.

This is a tip that you can follow for double checking your equipments. In this step, your primary job is to connect each part of your system namely the monitor, cables, and DVR and check whether all of them are working properly or not.

Step 6: The placement of the cameras.

As we have told you to make a diagram select the areas you want under surveillance, we should now check out those places. What you need to keep in mind here is that you should look for open and broad places. It is been observed that the best angle of any room is the area where the ceiling meets. Here the best thing to do is place the camera downward to get maximum coverage. Two things that you need to take care of here are firstly trying to position the camera near a power outlet so that there is no question of the power failure at any point of time. And secondly, the camera is placed in a way that it is able to cover all the entries and exits. Now it is almost given that if you are going to mount a camera because you are going to place where the two walls meet but when you do so then make sure that it is at least 10 feet off the ground. This is a precaution taken so that the camera cannot be knocked down.

Step 7: The mounting of the camera.

The next thing that you are going to do after selecting the place of installation is by mounting the camera there. Now there are certain cameras that come with sticky pads. The disadvantage of these cameras is that if the adhesive wears off then it might fall off and break. Therefore, the safest way to mount these cameras is done by simply screwing them onto the walls. It is true that cameras can vary from type to type but the procedure of mounting them on the walls remains the same and it is as follows. First, you need to place the mount in the place that you deem fit. Next you need to take a sharpie or a pencil and mark on the spots where you need the screws to go in. After that drill holes on those specific spots. The next step is an important one where you need to hammer in molding pins. Next, you simply screw in the mount onto the wall. Lastly, you position the camera onto an angle that you feel right for the room to see the video footage properly and clearly.

Step 8: The power source.

You will find that all cameras come equipped with a power adaptor that relays the power to the camera and can be easily inserted in the normal power outlets. What you need to do here is simply put in the small round end onto the camera and the other end to the power outlet. If you find that this adaptor is not working properly or is broken then contact the manufacturer as soon as possible because the camera will not work properly without a power adaptor.

Step 9A: Connecting the DVR with the wire.

The BNC cables are used for connecting any standard surveillance system. The biggest reason for this is that it is easy to use and user-friendly. The advantage of these cables is that they are identical on both the ends and, therefore, you don’t face any problems when it comes to plugging in. Here you are required to simply plug in the correct ports and twist the small nut at the end to lock it in. You need to plug in one end at the ‘Output” of the camera and the other in the ‘Input’ of the DVR. In case you don’t have a BNC connection, you can easily buy a BNC adaptor online or at any hardware store. It carefully slips in on the back end to make your connection BNC compatible.

Step 9B: Connecting the wireless camera.

If you have a wireless system in place then your package will include a software disc which you will need to install in order to view the live feeds. All you need to do here is follow the instructions on the screen and access your camera in no time. If your camera has a small receiver then it will attach to your camera using a USB port, so make sure that it is attached properly. Moreover, if there is an IP address for your camera that is provided to you then keep it with you carefully as you will be able to access the feeds of your camera from anywhere by typing the address on your web browser.

Step 10: Connecting the monitor and DVR.

Generally DVRs are connected to a monitor using HDMI cables but BNC cables can also be used for these purposes. You can use your connection here and simply attach one end on the ‘Output’ of the DDVR and another end to the ‘Input’ of the monitor to set up proper connection.

Step 11: The surveillance hub.

If you have a lot of different cameras from where you will need to receive feeds then you will also need a central system to control it and bring the feeds to the DVR. Your central system must be a place which can be accessed by you easily as you will need to run all the wires to and from this place. The base of your operations can be your office or attics and remember that only one DVR is required for storing all the feeds.

Step 12: Siamese cables.

Named for the fact that they have two cables named together, these Siamese cables are going to run through your house. Siamese cables will come in handy for both power relay and video relay. To get you accustomed with the cable, you should remember that the braided black and red are for power where the red one is for positive and the black one for negative. The other cable which is cylindrical in shape is for video and will either have a coaxial cable or BNC attachment.

Step 13: The power box.

If you are looking to activate a good number of cameras then you will need to buy a power box which usually costs between $30 and $50. They come with multiple ports and are capable of providing power from one single outlet which is always an advantage. They are perfect for cameras which are placed close together and also for those which are not near any particular power outlet. Although the only disadvantage of these cameras is that they require a lot of wires which can run through the house.

Step 14: Attaching the video ports.

The DVR is more than capable of handling all the cameras in the house and it will encompass all the cameras and will provide continuous streaming all throughout the day. Every feed from every camera will be up for display so sit back and relax, all you need to do is attach the proper cable in the ‘Input’ slot of the DVR.

Step 15: Cover the wires.

After doing the important parts of the installation, you will be left with one really important thing and that is to cover the wires which are running to your central hub. The best thing to do here is to call a professional carpenter and simply make a proper layout of the wires and its ancillary objects and chalk out a plan to properly cover the areas where the wires are running from. If you keep these wires in the open then they might not look that good which is not good for the interior of the house.

Step 16: Customized systems.

It can happen that you have a large house and wiring and installing the entire house is troublesome. Moreover, you might also look for additional features of motion and alarm systems in your security systems. The best thing to do here is simply called a security company and tell them your requirements and let them take care of the rest.

Installing a security camera is nothing that difficult, but you need to be clear about the purpose and specifications of the device you have purchased. If you follow these steps, you will have a clear idea of how to install security cameras in your home.

2 comments

I would really like to have security cameras in my home. I just want to keep my home really safe. I have looked into a lot of different cameras and I think it would be nice to get one that is not really expensive. You can get some pretty cheap security cameras.

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I have honestly debated about buying security cameras for a long time. However, now I think I need to buy them. Thanks for the tips on finding the right camera, the motion-sensor option you mentioned sounds really nice.